Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has lashed members of the Liberal party for whipping up national "hysteria" over China, describing outspoken backbencher Andrew Hastie as "post-pubescent" and warning of a descent into "neo-McCarthyism".

Mr Rudd said Mr Hastie's recent comments had poured "a whole lot of petrol" onto what has always been "a complex and difficult relationship" between Australia and its largest trading partner, while blaming former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for tensions.